Lesson Plan: The Art Of Japanese Foods

Objectives:

After exploring Japanese seafood, students will learn that there is an art to the preparation of Japanese foods. By making clay models of Japanese foods, students will broaden their understanding of different Japanese foods, and learn about the art of preparing foods, of making foods look attractive for those who will be eating them. Students will create clay models of different Japanese foods and meals for a classroom's Japanese restaurant window.

Materials:

To complete this activity, students will need clay for modeling (different colors of clay work best), and pictures of Japanese foods and meals from Japanese cookbooks, or books about Japan.

Procedures:

  1. Introduce the activity during the classroom meeting, right before center time begins. Let students know what is expected of them, and where they can find the materials that they will be using.
  2. Begin center work with small groups of four to five students.
  3. Have students begin by looking through the pictures in the cookbooks and other books containing pictures of Japanese foods.
  4. Ask students to choose a Japanese food or meal of which to make a clay model.
  5. Pass out the clay.
  6. Allow students time to begin their models (about twenty minutes).
  7. Ask students questions about their work, including questions about the techniques that they used.
  8. Have students finish their models (allow about five more minutes).
  9. Have students label their foods or meals, put them in the 'restaurant window.'
  10. Have the students clean up the area for the next group.

Evaluation of Student Learning:

As a result of this activity, the instructor should be able to answer the following questions:
  1. Are students able to tell each other, as well as the instructor, something about their 'food'?
  2. Are the students able to discuss the process of making their models?
  3. Are students able to discuss their models as works of art?
  4. Did students complete their models, and label them?
  5. Did the students put their foods/meals on display in the Japanese 'restaurant window'?

Follow-up/Extension Activities

  1. Prepare and eat real Japanese foods/meals with the students. Try to prepare and eat the foods/meals of which the students made clay models.
  2. Have students make a classroom menu of their foods/meals for the Japanese 'restaurant.'
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